#Raw Materials

2020-05-06

ICAC makes ‘Cotton This Month’ free to all for three months due to pandemic

As part of its Covid-19-focussed communications strategy, the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) is making one of its flagship publications, Cotton This Month, free to all for the months of May, June and July. It includes the major report, which is released the first business day of each month, as well as the mid-month update.

The ICAC, recognising the serious threat to the global cotton supply chain, is foregoing the revenue from the publication because the organisation believes it’s more important to keep all cotton and textile stakeholders informed and connected.

‘Once the world gets the coronavirus under control, the cotton and textile industries will face the serious challenge of restarting their stalled global supply chains’, said ICAC Executive Director Kai Hughes.

‘To minimise the suffering of so many vulnerable people, we will need to be ready to get back to work as quickly and safely as possible — and that can only happen if all stakeholders stay informed and connected throughout the crisis. Making some of our information free will help stakeholders make informed strategic decisions to ensure that happens’.

Other initiatives in the ICAC’s Covid-19 communications strategy are:

A video interview series called ‘Cotton Connects’, in which the ICAC Secretariat interviews global cotton and textile industry leaders to get advice and updates;

A Twitter campaign to publicly recognise those global brands and retailers that are meeting their responsibilities by paying for, or agreeing to pay for, all orders that have been completed or are under construction; and

Driving and coordinating global support for the much-anticipated World Cotton Day on 7 October 2020, in which individuals, associations and businesses will celebrate and show their support for cotton, the world’s most important natural fibre.

To access ‘Cotton This Month’, please click here:

https://www.icac.org/Publications?MenuId=41

To view the Cotton Connects series of video interviews, please click here:

https://www.icac.org/News/NewsDetails?NewsId=2332&YearId=2020

To learn more about World Cotton Day, please lick here:

https://www.icac.org/Home/WorldCottonDay?MenuId=71

ICAC to support European Commission on pending PEF legislation

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) is proud to announce that it has been included as a member of the European Commission’s Technical Advisory Board (TAB) on the Product Environmental Footprint methodology. The Commission developed the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) to assess and communicate the life cycle environmental performance of products and organizations.

ICAC to collaborate with Uzbekistan and Bizpando on regenerative agriculture

The Government of Uzbekistan has allocated 55,000 hectares of land to implement a regenerative agriculture program for cotton as part of a collaborative project with the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) and Bizpando, a company with a a blockchain-based internet platform designed to ensure supply chain compliance.

ICAC announces postponement of the 83rd Plenary Meeting in Tanzania

Due to unforeseen circumstances arising from the recent developments in Tanzania, the ICAC has announced that its upcoming 83rd Plenary Meeting has been postponed. Scheduled for Nov. 17-20 in Mwanza, the delay was recommended by Tanzania, and the decision was made out of an abundance of caution, prioritizing the safety and well-being of all participants.

Lenzing AG to become majority owner of TreeToTextile AB and accelerates industrialization of new fibers

The Lenzing Group is taking another strategic milestone by acquiring a controlling majority in the Swedish innovation company TreeToTextile AB. This step strengthens Lenzing’s position as a leading provider of sustainable, wood‑based specialty fibers and expands its innovation pipeline with a highly scalable, patent‑protected technology platform. The transaction is executed through the issuance of new shares.

Cotton Incorporated appoints Bev Sylvester as Chief Marketing Officer

Cotton Incorporated announces the appointment of Bev Sylvester as chief marketing officer. In this newly created role, Sylvester will oversee Cotton Incorporated’s marketing strategy, brand positioning, consumer engagement and global outreach to increase demand for cotton and strengthen its relevance in the marketplace.

OEKO-TEX® chooses TextileGenesis to advance digital traceability for organic cotton

OEKO-TEX® today announced a full collaboration with TextileGenesis, a Lectra company, to digitally trace and authenticate organic cotton, strengthening fraud prevention across the supply chain. This announcement follows a successful pilot and brings together OEKO-TEX®’s certification expertise and closed testing system with TextileGenesis’ digital traceability platform to deliver a secure, end-to-end solution for managing certified organic cotton flows.

“Action helps us change what we do!”

DAY 0 takes place deliberately before PERFORMANCE DAYS begins. It is conceived as a space for reflection, dialogue and active engagement — a moment to pause before the fair, rethink established systems and address sustainability not as a trend, but as a fundamental transformation challenge. Under the guiding metaphor “Turn the Tap Off”, DAY 0 focuses on root causes rather than symptoms, systemic change rather than isolated solutions, and collective responsibility rather than individual silos.

Pets in fashion: functional and sustainable textiles find new market at Intertextile Apparel

China’s pet economy is booming, especially amongst younger generations, and pet apparel – from designer outfits to functional garments – was a RMB 3.5 billion (over USD 500 million) market in 2024, growing more than 20% annually¹. To help exhibitors harness this trend, Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition 2026 will launch the Pet Boutique, presenting a range of innovative, sustainable materials that prioritise both functionality and comfort for pets.

VAUDE eliminates PFAS from all products

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are now detectable worldwide – in drinking water, soil and the human body. These so-called “forever chemicals” are considered hazardous to health and potentially carcinogenic, as they do not break down and remain in the environment permanently. Despite these risks, PFAS are still used in a wide range of products. More than 15 years ago, VAUDE made a strategic decision to gradually eliminate PFAS from all product categories.